John Graydon
Encyclopedia
John Graydon was an English vice-admiral.
; in May 1688 first lieutenant of the Mary
, and in October was advanced to the command of the Soldado. In her he took part in the battle of Bantry Bay
on 1 May 1689, and was shortly afterwards promoted to the Defiance
, which he commanded in the battle of Beachy Head
, 30 June 1690. In 1692 he commanded the Hampton Court in the action at Barfleur, and with the grand fleet through 1693.
From 1695 to 1697 he commanded the Vanguard
, also with the grand fleet. In April 1701 in the Assistance
he convoyed the trade to Newfoundland, and seeing the trade thence into the Mediterranean was back in England
by the spring of 1702. In June, while in command of the Triumph
at Portsmouth
, he was promoted to be rear-admiral of the blue, and ordered out to join Sir George Rooke on the coast of Spain
. He was with him in the attempt on Cadiz
, and in the destruction of the enemy's ships at Vigo
; and having his flag in the Lancaster
returned home in company with Sir Clowdisley Shovell in charge of the prizes. The following January he was promoted to be vice-admiral of the white, and appointed commander-in-chief of a squadron sent out to the West Indies.
He sailed with special orders to make the best of his way out, to collect such force, both of ships and troops, as might be available, and going north to reduce the French settlement of Placentia
. A few days after he sailed, on 18 March, he fell in with a squadron of four French ships of force clearly inferior to the five with him. Graydon, however, considered that he was bound by his instructions to avoid all chances of delay; he allowed them to pass him unhindered, and did not pursue. He arrived at Barbados
on 12 May, and at Jamaica
on 4 June but the necessity of refitting, the condition of several of the ships, some of which had been long on the station, the want of stores, and the bad feeling with the locals, all combined to delay the expedition. It did not reach Newfoundland till the beginning of August. From that time for thirty days it was enveloped in a dense fog; it was 3 September before the fleet was again assembled, and then a council of war
, considering the lateness of the season, the bad condition of the ships, the sickly state of the men, the want of provisions, and the strength of the enemy at Placentia, decided that the attack ought not to be made. On 24 September the fleet accordingly sailed for England; the weather was very bad, the ships were scattered, and singly reached home in the course of October.
The expedition had been an evident failure, and the neglect to engage the French squadron passed on the outward voyage appeared culpable; and a committee of the House of Lords
reported that Graydon by his conduct had been a prejudice to the queen's service and a great dishonour to the nation, and recommended that he should 'be employed no more in her majesty's service'. He was not tried, but was condemned on hearsay. Graydon was virtually cashiered, his pension was stopped, and he was not reinstated. He died on 12 March 1726.
His portrait, a half-length by Sir Godfrey Kneller, is in the Painted Hall at Greenwich
, to which it was presented by George IV
.
Life
In June 1686 Graydon was appointed lieutenant of the Charles galleyHMS Charles
HMS Charles has been the name of more than one ship of the English or British Royal Navy:*HMS Charles , a 16-gun pinnace launched in 1586 and sold in 1616*HMS Charles , a 16-gun pinnace built in 1620 and last listed in 1627...
; in May 1688 first lieutenant of the Mary
HMS Mary
Fifteen ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Mary: was a Cinque Ports ship in service in 1350. was a ship in service from 1400 and given away in 1423. was a ship in service from 1413 and lost in 1426. was a Royalist ketch in 1648. She was captured by the Parliamentarians in 1649 and not...
, and in October was advanced to the command of the Soldado. In her he took part in the battle of Bantry Bay
Battle of Bantry Bay
The Battle of Bantry Bay was a naval engagement fought on 11 May 1689 during the Nine Years' War. The Allied fleet was commanded by Arthur Herbert, 1st Earl of Torrington; the French fleet by François Louis de Rousselet, Marquis de Châteaurenault...
on 1 May 1689, and was shortly afterwards promoted to the Defiance
HMS Defiance
Twelve ships and two shore establishments of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Defiance. Others have borne the name whilst serving as depot ships and tenders to the establishments:...
, which he commanded in the battle of Beachy Head
Battle of Beachy Head (1690)
The Battle of Beachy Head was a naval engagement fought on 10 July 1690 during the Nine Years' War. The battle was the greatest French tactical naval victory over their English and Dutch opponents during the war...
, 30 June 1690. In 1692 he commanded the Hampton Court in the action at Barfleur, and with the grand fleet through 1693.
From 1695 to 1697 he commanded the Vanguard
HMS Vanguard
Eleven ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Vanguard, meaning the forefront of an action or movement. was a 31-gun galleon launched in 1586, rebuilt twice and was broken up in 1630, with some parts being reused in the next HMS Vanguard. was a 56-gun second-rate launched in 1631, active...
, also with the grand fleet. In April 1701 in the Assistance
HMS Assistance
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have borne the name HMS Assistance: was a 50-gun ship launched in 1650, rebuilt in 1699, 1712 and 1725, and sunk in 1746 as a breakwater. was a 50-gun fourth rate launched in 1747 and sold in 1773. was a transport launched in 1771 and sold in 1802...
he convoyed the trade to Newfoundland, and seeing the trade thence into the Mediterranean was back in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
by the spring of 1702. In June, while in command of the Triumph
HMS Triumph
Ten ships of the Royal Navy have been named HMS Triumph. Another was planned, but renamed before being launched: was a 68-gun galleon built in 1561. She was rebuilt in 1596, and sold in 1618. was a 44-gun ship launched in 1623 and broken up in 1687. was a 90-gun second rate ship of the line...
at Portsmouth
Portsmouth
Portsmouth is the second largest city in the ceremonial county of Hampshire on the south coast of England. Portsmouth is notable for being the United Kingdom's only island city; it is located mainly on Portsea Island...
, he was promoted to be rear-admiral of the blue, and ordered out to join Sir George Rooke on the coast of Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
. He was with him in the attempt on Cadiz
Cádiz
Cadiz is a city and port in southwestern Spain. It is the capital of the homonymous province, one of eight which make up the autonomous community of Andalusia....
, and in the destruction of the enemy's ships at Vigo
Vigo
Vigo is a city and municipality in north-west Spain, in Galicia, situated on the ria of the same name on the Atlantic Ocean.-Population:...
; and having his flag in the Lancaster
HMS Lancaster
There have been six ships of the Royal Navy named HMS Lancaster: was an 80-gun first rate built in 1694, then rebuilt and relaunched in 1722, and rebuilt for a third time to a 66-gun third rate in 1749. was an East Indiaman, fitted out as a third rate 64-gun ship in 1797. was a frigate of 1823,...
returned home in company with Sir Clowdisley Shovell in charge of the prizes. The following January he was promoted to be vice-admiral of the white, and appointed commander-in-chief of a squadron sent out to the West Indies.
He sailed with special orders to make the best of his way out, to collect such force, both of ships and troops, as might be available, and going north to reduce the French settlement of Placentia
Placentia
Placentia may refer to:* Palace of Placentia, an English Royal Palace* Placentia, California, United States* Placentia, Italy* Placentia, Newfoundland and Labrador, Canada* Battle of Placentia* Placentia Bay, the name of two ships of the Royal Navy...
. A few days after he sailed, on 18 March, he fell in with a squadron of four French ships of force clearly inferior to the five with him. Graydon, however, considered that he was bound by his instructions to avoid all chances of delay; he allowed them to pass him unhindered, and did not pursue. He arrived at Barbados
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
on 12 May, and at Jamaica
Jamaica
Jamaica is an island nation of the Greater Antilles, in length, up to in width and 10,990 square kilometres in area. It is situated in the Caribbean Sea, about south of Cuba, and west of Hispaniola, the island harbouring the nation-states Haiti and the Dominican Republic...
on 4 June but the necessity of refitting, the condition of several of the ships, some of which had been long on the station, the want of stores, and the bad feeling with the locals, all combined to delay the expedition. It did not reach Newfoundland till the beginning of August. From that time for thirty days it was enveloped in a dense fog; it was 3 September before the fleet was again assembled, and then a council of war
Council of war
A council of war is a term in military science that describes a meeting held to decide on a course of action, usually in the midst of a battle. Under normal circumstances, decisions are made by a commanding officer, optionally communicated and coordinated by staff officers, and then implemented by...
, considering the lateness of the season, the bad condition of the ships, the sickly state of the men, the want of provisions, and the strength of the enemy at Placentia, decided that the attack ought not to be made. On 24 September the fleet accordingly sailed for England; the weather was very bad, the ships were scattered, and singly reached home in the course of October.
The expedition had been an evident failure, and the neglect to engage the French squadron passed on the outward voyage appeared culpable; and a committee of the House of Lords
House of Lords
The House of Lords is the upper house of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. Like the House of Commons, it meets in the Palace of Westminster....
reported that Graydon by his conduct had been a prejudice to the queen's service and a great dishonour to the nation, and recommended that he should 'be employed no more in her majesty's service'. He was not tried, but was condemned on hearsay. Graydon was virtually cashiered, his pension was stopped, and he was not reinstated. He died on 12 March 1726.
His portrait, a half-length by Sir Godfrey Kneller, is in the Painted Hall at Greenwich
Greenwich
Greenwich is a district of south London, England, located in the London Borough of Greenwich.Greenwich is best known for its maritime history and for giving its name to the Greenwich Meridian and Greenwich Mean Time...
, to which it was presented by George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
.